Page 70 of Losing My Siren Luna
No. Lira is not the type to be wooed with suave moves and a pretty face. If that were the case, I would have already gained back the favor of my wife. No. I think the only way to Lira’s heart is through actions. Selfless and honorable actions. Cherum has a better chance at stealing my wife from me than some man who is displaying such disrespect as a guest to an Alpha in his territory.
Lira may accept his protection and friendship, but I don’t think she will be impressed with this rebellious display.
“By all means,” Lira said in a tense response. “Better you than me. I would love to hear more about myfather,”her eyes flashed angrily towards me for the briefest of seconds before looking away again, “when you are done.”
“Of course, my princess,” Cedric grins, then waves his hand to guide her to follow Cherum and the other guards, along with Yasmin, as they begin making their way into the castle past the gates.
I watch as Lira walks away, never looking back at either of us. I don’t know whether to feel sad for myself, or happy that her affection for the siren ran as deep as her interest in her father.
Shit….
I turned to Cedric after that statement and its implications hit me all at once.
“You told her about her father?!”
He smirks, resting his hands on his hips, making his cape billow out behind him. His exposed chest gleams in the sunlight, almost with a glittering glow.
I may have been upset with Cherum for speaking ill of sirens, but siren men really are the worst. They can use their beauty and charms to manipulate a woman, even without using their magic. They are called sirens for a reason, and not often referred to as mermen and mermaids. Their seductive qualities are a temptation to all weak-willed individuals who look upon them. Being bred from the ancient fae kind who are known for their beauty, and with succubus or incubus demons, master at manipulation and seduction, my pack does not trust them easily. Not with our wars with demon kind of the North. Other packs will form treaties with the siren kings and queens for protection on the seas, but we do not. We have not, at least, until it was needed to bring my mate back.
I know after dealing with King Brennus while trying to bring Lira back from the dead that sirens are not to be feared and can be trusted. Our prejudices are just from fear from our wars, and something our pack will have to overcome after Lira’s hybrid abilities come to her on her 20th birthday. I still don’t like this guy, though.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Cedric challenged me, “I can’t tell her everything, but I think the princess deserves to know that her father is watching out for her as best he can under the circumstances. It will help her to not feel abandoned and alone, since those are the only feelings herhusbandseems to bring forth in her.”
Killian snarls at the man through me, and I can feel his urge to shift. I’m the one holding him back this time.
“Lira,”I reminded him, “Think of Lira.”
With that reminder, Killian settles down some, but still wants to rip him to shreds. Any Alpha would with another man being that friendly with their mate. We should be commended for keeping our temper this much in check.
“Maybe I wouldn’t if I could reveal to my wife thatIknow her father too, and that….” my throat swells painfully when I try to mention that I was the one to help bring her back. This damn contract and all its stipulations. I guess mentioning that incident to even one of King Brennus’s men is breaking the blood oath.
“That what?” Cedric’s smile stretched further on his infuriating face. “Thatyou, her abusive and boorish husband, could possibly have helped her to come back from the dead? How do you think that would go over with her? Learning that her rejected mate only fought for her life after her death.”
“I DIDN’T JUST FUCKING FIGHT FOR HER THEN!” I roared, letting my anger flare and reaching out to grab him by the throat of his robe. He doesn’t even flinch, or seem surprised by my outburst. “I fought against her for two years. Two fucking years, only because I wanted her so badly, and because I thought she was a trap sent by Wayne Lambert to keep me from finding my true mate. I wanted her. There was never a day that went by that I didn’t. I had to put my pack first, so I did despicable things, not knowing the truth. Now that I do know the fucking truth, I can not even reveal it to her.” I shook my head, growling deep in my throat, “I fought so hard, it almost killed me to bring her back. I will be damned if I let your presence ruin this fight for me. I will never stop fighting for her, you greasy scaled fish. Never. If you think you can stop me with your taunting and arrogant attitude, you do not know Lira very well and you sure as hell do not know me.” I shove him away from me, a twinge of satisfaction coming to me when he stumbles back with an upset expression. “I am in the fight of my life for my wife and my mate, my pack, my people, and most of all, my heart and very life depend on it. I won’t lose her because of you. King Brennus’s contract be damned, if he is going to try and take the only woman in the world that could ever be my Luna; if he plans on going back on his word to give me a fighting chance, I will move heaven and hell to keep her here, even if it means going against the king myself.”
Cedric stared stoically, watching me for several seconds, then an irritating smirk slowly spread on his face. “Well, that is more like it. For a moment, I was questioning why my King would give an undeserving war-hungry mutt like you a chance at redemption with his daughter. I was all for pushing you to screw up again so I could remove her from here as soon as possible, but I see it now. I see why he decided to give you the chance, however undeserving it might be.”
I’m panting as I calm my racing heart from my heated outburst. My eyebrows drew down in confusion.
“Okay,Alpha. I am merely here to serve and protect. YourLunais safe from my charming advances. I fear the King would condemn me or send me to hell himself if I were to ever be anything but his daughter’s protector. He knows the importance of a mate bond,” Cedric looks out towards the sea sadly, “He knows it all too well, and the repercussions of a rejection to one’s soul. He did not wish that for his daughter. No matter how unworthy you may be. As long as you do not threaten the safety or well-being of my princess, I can assure you that my motives towards her are pure. I am what is similar to your Delta. The King’s descendants are each assigned a personal guard, and I am hers. She will never be a love interest for me,” he then smirks, “No matter how charming she may find me.”
I scoffed, “Lira can not be won over by charm, fishboy.” I shook my head and looked towards the castle, past the gates. “If charm and a pretty face were all I needed to win her heart, I would have it already.”
At that, Cedric is the one who scoffs, “Pretty face? You look like your face froze while taking a painful shit. Anger is not a pretty feature.”
Killian snarls furiously, making Cedric laugh. “No offense. Well, maybe some offense. I’m still not your biggest supporter of winning my princess’s affections. Now,” he claps his hands together, “I believe we have some long-term arrangements that need to be made?”
“Make his long-term arrangements to be in the moldy fish pond behind the horse stable near where they store the manure,”Killian suggests, making me laugh darkly back at him in my head. I piss in that pond daily. That would be very satisfying indeed.
It would not win me any points with my wife, though.
“Follow me,” I muttered, pushing past him and walking around the outskirts of the castle to the training grounds where Meldec would hopefully be. I’m ready to pass this headache off to him and find my wife to start making amends.
~
“Mel!” I yelled out, walking around the armory and offices for my ranked warriors. “Gamma Meldec!” I roared, getting fed up with looking for him.
I want to get rid of Cedric so I can get back to my wife. His very presence is grating on my limited nerves.
